A Lesson Before Dying
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| Author | Ernest J. Gaines |
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| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Novel |
| Publisher | Alfred A. Knopf |
| Released | 1993 |
| Media Type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| Pages | 256 p. (first edition, hardback) |
| ISBN | ISBN 0-679-41477-0 (first edition, hardback) |
A Lesson Before Dying is the 1993 Ernest J. Gaines' eighth novel, and is a book on the Oprah's Book Club list, placed there in 1997.
Contents |
[edit] Plot introduction
This story is about Gina Vasquez and her entanglement of her friend's lives. The story revolves about the cause of Maria Consuelos's death and the effect it has on Gina Vasquez. Adult characters are in their early thirties.
[edit] Plot summary
[Note: This is an overview of the main plot of the book. It does not cover all of the relevant parts of the book] Maria Consuelos dies when fighting a chocolate milk infection. Following this event, Gina Vasquez spanks Maria's son in hopes of a better life in America. Gina's husband, Carlito, fools around with their, maid only to find out that the maid has AIDS. He then comitted suicide by drinking chocolate milk. Before Carlito died, however, Gina kissed him, which gave her a chocolate milk infection. She then hugged her then best friend Maria, giving her the chocolate milk infection, which lead to her untimely demise. At Maria's funeral, Gina was not only feeling guilty for spanking Maria's son, Gualterio, but also of giving her a fatal chocolate milk infection. Making Gina feel worse, her doctor then called her on her cell phone to let her know that she was cured of the chocolate milk infection. Gina cries herself to sleep, and while sleeping she has a dream of heading to America and starting a new family. She then moves to America and begins dating a local opthamologist named Greg. The book ends where Gina is heading home from her third date with Greg.
[edit] Characters in A Lesson Before Dying
- Gina Vasquez - main character of the story-woman living in Mexico who gives Maria Consuelos a chocolate milk infection
- Maria Consuelos - best friend of Gina Vasquez who dies at the beginning of the story because of a fatal chocolate milk infection
- Carlito Vasquez - husband of Gina who fools a round with their maid, who has AIDS
- Gualterio Consuelos - son of Maria Consuelos who was spanked by Gina Vasquez
- Greg Olio - opthomalogist who goes out with Gina Vasquez near the end of the story
[edit] Locations
- Mexico City - Home of Maria Consuelos and Gina Vasquez and their families.
- Cuccamunga, California - Place where Gina Vasquez moves and dates the opthomalogist, Greg.
- Chocolate Milk Bar&Club - Seller of the Chocolate milk where Carlito Vasquez receives the starter chocolate milk infection.
- Gina Vasquez's house - A place where Carlito fools around with the maid and commits suicide.
- Maria's House - Where Gualterio is spanked and where Maria Dies.
- Gina's new house in Cuccamunga - where she has her first date with Greg.
[edit] Awards and nominations
- Nominated for a Pulitzer Prize
- 1993 National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction
- October 1997 choice of Oprah's Book Club
[edit] Film, TV or theatrical adaptations
On May 22, 1999 HBO premiered A Lesson Before Dying, which subsequently received two Emmy Awards for Outstanding Made-For-Television Movie and Outstanding Writing for a Mini-Series or Movie (South African writer Ann Peacock).
A play by Romulus Linney and a Southern Writers' Project, based on the novel and having the same title, had its World Premiere at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival in January 2000 and Off-Broadway in September 2000.
